Biography and education
I am an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Information Systems & Analytics at Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business, with more than 20 years of executive experience in information technology and its application within complex business environments. My professional background spans transportation and logistics (domestic and international), manufacturing, and higher education.
Over the course of my industry career, I led information technology organizations for four companies and served as a senior executive, including President, for three additional firms with annual revenues ranging from approximately $5 million to $700 million. My responsibilities included enterprise systems strategy, governance, and implementation, with extensive hands-on experience deploying, maintaining, and adapting industry-specific ERP platforms including SAP, Infor XA (MAPICS), Innovative IES, and proprietary logistics systems.
I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Computer Information Systems and a Master of Science in Accounting & Information Technology. I am currently completing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, with expected completion by the end of Summer 2026, and am a member of the inaugural cohort of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Texas State University, which I began in 2026.
My academic and professional interests focus on the intersection of analytics, artificial intelligence, fraud risk, and governance, with particular emphasis on how emerging technologies influence investigation methods, evidence handling, internal controls, and organizational decision-making.
I am a regular contributor to Fraud Magazine, the flagship publication of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). In collaboration with Dr. Carolyn Conn, I currently author a bi-monthly column that examines emerging technologies and provides early, practitioner-focused analysis of what comes next in fraud detection and investigation. In 2025, our work on real-time deepfakes received the ACFE Hubbard Award, a global honor selected by approximately 95,000 ACFE members worldwide. I have also been recognized for teaching excellence as a Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year, representing faculty across 12 states.
Over the course of my industry career, I led information technology organizations for four companies and served as a senior executive, including President, for three additional firms with annual revenues ranging from approximately $5 million to $700 million. My responsibilities included enterprise systems strategy, governance, and implementation, with extensive hands-on experience deploying, maintaining, and adapting industry-specific ERP platforms including SAP, Infor XA (MAPICS), Innovative IES, and proprietary logistics systems.
I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Computer Information Systems and a Master of Science in Accounting & Information Technology. I am currently completing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, with expected completion by the end of Summer 2026, and am a member of the inaugural cohort of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Texas State University, which I began in 2026.
My academic and professional interests focus on the intersection of analytics, artificial intelligence, fraud risk, and governance, with particular emphasis on how emerging technologies influence investigation methods, evidence handling, internal controls, and organizational decision-making.
I am a regular contributor to Fraud Magazine, the flagship publication of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). In collaboration with Dr. Carolyn Conn, I currently author a bi-monthly column that examines emerging technologies and provides early, practitioner-focused analysis of what comes next in fraud detection and investigation. In 2025, our work on real-time deepfakes received the ACFE Hubbard Award, a global honor selected by approximately 95,000 ACFE members worldwide. I have also been recognized for teaching excellence as a Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year, representing faculty across 12 states.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Hurwitz, D. C., Kelley, T. M., & Kelley, Z. M. (2024). Business Statistics: Real World Application. Retrieved from kendallhunt.com
- Conn, C. T., & Kelley, Z. M. (2021, September 1). Online Academic Cheating: A Predictable Result of COVID-19. Fraud Magazine, (September/October 2021), 22–30. Retrieved from www.fraud-magazine.com/article.aspx?id=4295015766
- Conn, C., & Kelley, Z. M. (2025, December 30). Beware the dangers of AI chatbots, but embrace the investigatory advantages. Fraud Magazine, (January/February 2026). Retrieved from https://www.acfe.com/fraud-magazine
- Conn, C., & Kelley, Z. M. (2024, July). The flawless fraud of real-time deepfakes. Fraud Magazine. Retrieved from www.acfe.com
- Kelley, Z. M., Raiborn, C. A., & Kelley, T. M. (2018, November). Ripple Effects of Fraud. Fraud Magazine, (Nov/Dec 2018), 46–51. Retrieved from https://www.fraud-magazine.com/article.aspx?id=4295003640
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Dean’s Leadership Council Changemaker Award, McCoy College of Business, Texas State University. August 21, 2025
- Award / Honor Recipient: ACFE Hubbard Award for Best Feature Article, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). July 28, 2025
- Award / Honor Nominee: Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Texas State University. March 5, 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year Award (Texas State), Sun Belt Conference. May 19, 2023
- Award / Honor Recipient: Studies in Entrepreneurship Visiting Entrepreneur, Texas State University. November 8, 2016

Featured service activities
- Member
University Curriculum Committee
- Co-Chair
Department of Information Systems and Analytics Curriculum Committee
- Member
McCoy College of Business Curriculum Committee
- Other
Texas State University - Geek Culture Club
- Officer
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- Participant
2024 Bobcat Day
